AARON CONNOLLY is “ahead of schedule” as he battles to build up his match sharpness ahead of his first start in a Sunderland shirt.

Having been released by Hull City at the end of last season, Connolly spent the summer without a club. While he did his best to keep up his fitness levels, the lack of an organised pre-season was always going to affect his ability to hit the ground running when he eventually secured new employers.

Sunderland knew that when they signed him, but Regis Le Bris has eased the forward back into competitive action via two outings for the Under-21s and Connolly has now made substitute appearances in three consecutive first-team games.

There have been flashes of what he is capable of in all of those outings, and while he admits he is not yet playing at his peak, the 24-year-old is pleased with the way he has been progressing in the last few weeks.

“I was speaking to one of the strength and conditioning coaches and we were saying that a pre-season is normally around eight weeks,” said Connolly, who has opened up on his battles against alcohol addiction since joining Sunderland.

“I'm around week five now, so I'm way ahead of where I thought I would be. I feel good, to be fair. It's the best I've felt in my career since those younger days at Brighton, and I just need to stay on the path so that when I do get that start, I'll be flying.”

While Connolly is an experienced Irish international with extensive Premier League experience, he accepts the form of Sunderland’s other forwards means he will have to be patient as he battles for a first start in red-and-white.

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Wilson Isidor has been performing sensationally in the last month or so, scoring four goals in the space of six games, and the Zenit St Petersburg loanee is expected to retain his place in the starting side for Saturday’s trip to QPR.

Eliezer Mayenda should also be back in the squad at Loftus Road after completing his recovery from injury, having impressed in the early weeks of the season.

Having started the season with a huge question mark hanging over his attacking unit, Regis Le Bris suddenly finds himself with an embarrassment of riches in the final third, and while he admits he might have thought differently as a youngster, Connolly is mature enough to know that competition is an essential ingredient of a successful side.

“I think the competition can only benefit the team,” he said. “Of course, every striker wants it just to be them at the club, but then there's no one to push you and it doesn't benefit the team.

“Maybe when I was younger, I was selfish and wanted to play every single game. I still do now, but I'm realistic and I know it's a squad game if you want to get promoted out of this league. I'll be patient, I've been through a lot over the last few months so even just to be back amongst it again (feels good). I'll just keep pushing.”

Connolly’s experiences at Hull last season highlight just how quickly things can change, with the striker having been almost ever-present in the first half of the season before struggling to get a game in the second half of the campaign.

“Every player in the squad is itching to start,,” he said. “It’s just about being patient. The Championship is a long, long season. This time last year, I think I had four or five goals maybe, and then from January on, I didn't play. It can change very quickly, so I just need to make sure I’m ready.”